Luke Janiec signs with Freed-Hardeman University

Luke at his signing, joined by his parents Linda and Jason and standing (left) Freed-Hardeman Head Coach Jason Elliott and Marshals Head Coach Andrew Pagel.
Luke at his signing, joined by his parents Linda and Jason and standing (left) Freed-Hardeman Head Coach Jason Elliott and Marshals Head Coach Andrew Pagel.

DRAFFENVILLE – Luke Janiec signed on Friday to play soccer for Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, TN, under Head Coach Jason Elliott who has been the FHU coach for the past 15 seasons. FHU is an NAIA Division I school and a member of the American Midwest Conference.

Luke has been a member of the Marshall County High School soccer program since 2012, getting Varsity playing time his sophomore season and becoming a full-time starter his junior and senior years. As a junior, he was one of two non-senior starters on a team that ended up state-ranked and in the Sweet Sixteen.

In his senior season, Luke anchored the defense and in the three years, he contributed to the varsity, the Marshals went 43-21-3. Luke played with tremendous character, integrity, personal discipline and talent.

“Luke deserves this opportunity, to continue the sport he has loved for many years while pursuing a degree, which will enable him to commit to God’s ministry”, Marshals Head Coach Andrew Pagel said. “A defender myself, I know Luke embodied what it took to be really good. He doesn’t know how to quit, he is tremendously unselfish and he is as reliable as a teammate can be. He has raised his level of play steadily for the past two seasons and has leadership to go along with it.”

Luke’s capstone individual moment was winning 1st Team All-Region I this past season in addition to the 2nd Team All-District.

“I would say that what elevated his game versus his junior year was the way he took it upon himself to make it ‘his team’. We had other leaders but Luke was certainly the model for others to follow this past season. He played with a lot of heart.” added Pagel.

Many have helped develop Luke along the way including past and current MCHS coaches Donnie Heath, Bryan Blevins, Ian Umstead, Brandon Dodd and Nathan Arant. Western Kentucky PAO and the Marshall County Soccer Association also played large roles in his growth as a person and as a player.

“Luke’s contributions to the program will be missed at Marshall County, but we wish him well and know he will excel”, Pagel said. “We are proud of the young man he is becoming. We are blessed that his parents and two younger brothers, Seth and Sean, will remain part of our program.”

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